Kevon Looney rebounding from surgeries, contributing

Updated 7:36 am, Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Kevon Looney (5) gets booted from his photo session when Kevin Durant (35) showed up unexpectedly during Warriors Media Day at their practice facility in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, September 26, 2016.

Kevon Looney (5) gets booted from his photo session when Kevin Durant (35) showed up unexpectedly during Warriors Media Day at their practice facility in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, September 26, 2016.

LAS VEGAS — When Kevon Looney awoke Saturday morning, the Warriors forward felt no lingering soreness in his surgically repaired hips. It was cause for optimism for a player fresh off the most extended game action of his professional career.

“Feeling good the next day was a big thing for me,” said Looney, who recorded three points and nine rebounds in 14 minutes of Golden State’s overtime win Friday at Denver.

Feeling good became even more important when, 90 minutes before tip-off Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena, Looney learned he was starting against the Lakers. With David West and Draymond Green resting, head coach Steve Kerr wanted to see how Looney would play alongside Stephen Curry, KlayThompson, Kevin Durant and Zaza Pachulia.

“He’s young, he needs the experience,” Kerr said of Looney, who had seven points and nine rebounds in 23 minutes in Golden State’s 112-107 win over the Lakers. “We kind of know what (James Michael) McAdoo and Andy (AndersonVarejao) give us. The preseason is all about seeing what guys can give us.”

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The 30th pick of the 2015 NBA draft, Looney was limited to five games as a rookie last season. The UCLA alum underwent two hip surgeries in eight months, and after an extended rehab was cleared for contact in late August.

This preseason, Looney has shown that he can help alleviate one of the Warriors’ few weaknesses: rebounding. They are moving forward without two of last season’s top three rebounders in centers Andrew Bogutand Festus Ezeli.

“I don’t feel 100 percent as far as basketball-wise,” Looney said. “I’m short on a lot of things. But things that I needed to do were rebounding and defense, and that’s something I feel pretty comfortable with.”

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